6.
Other Outcomes
 “Mobile-centrics” are driving the bus
 Licensed database content for mobile devices in non-subject-specific
areas are still in infancy given existing limitations
limitations.
 Mobile learning is about how effectively and quickly you can search for
and retrieve the information you need (2010 Horizon Report).
 However, the benefit of using these mobile products in research seems to be
unclear.
 How can handhelds improve learning and affect research and teaching?
 We see much wider adoption of mobile devices in specific fields of study,
especially practice-based disciplines like medicine…

8.
Mobile Devices in Medicine
 32% of all Americans have gotten online with a mobile device.
(Pew I t
(P Internet Report 2009)
tR t
 54% of U.S. doctors own a PDA or smartphone. More than half of
them consider it to be an integral part of their practice
practice.
(iHealthBeat, Feb. 2009.)
 60-70% of medical students and residents use handheld computers
for education or patient care. (Kho et al., 2006)
 PDAs are often required during medical students’ clinical training.

18.
Challenges for Libraries
 Collection Development
 How to gauge demand
 How to track usage
 Licensing
 Providing Actual Service
 Device purchase for testing
 Staff training & support
 Promotion of service
 Coordinating with other units
 Sustaining the program
Photo Credit: Eleaf

19.
Librarians on Mobile Devices
 The majority of librarians don’t know (Spires, 2008)
 the percentage of their patrons using mobile devices.
 how mobile devices are being used in their libraries.
 if there is a demand for more or different services for mobile device
users.
 Librarians are split into three camps: (i) addressing issues now, (ii)
waiting until the demand increases and/or devices improve, and (iii) doing
nothing. (Spires, 2008)
Photo Credit: AndresV

20.
Can we assume that
mobile devices will
become popular
in non-practice-focused
subject areas
bj t
as in medicine?
Probably. But…
Photo Credit:Darwin Bell